7 Best Empathy Books
The best empathy books, ranked by how many expert sources recommend each one, with notes on who each suits, from communication guides to children’s stories.
Our take
Empathy can mean recognizing another person's feelings, considering their perspective, or responding with care. These books approach those tasks from different directions. Some explain research and offer habits to try; others explore the difficulty of understanding someone else's experience. Readers looking for help with conversation will want a different starting point from parents choosing a story to read with a child.
The War for Kindness introduces research and examples of developing empathy, while Roman Krznaric's Empathy connects personal habits with wider social concerns. Nonviolent Communication concentrates on how people express feelings and needs. Mindsight turns toward self-awareness, and The Art of Empathy offers a framework with exercises. For reflective essays rather than instructions, try The Empathy Exams. Families can begin with Listening with My Heart, whose focus includes kindness toward yourself. Start with Zaki for the broad question or Rosenberg for everyday conversations.
7 books · 9 sources · Last updated
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How to choose from this list
Skip to the full rankingIf you want a broad introduction: The War for Kindness → Empathy
If you want help with conversations: Nonviolent Communication → The Art of Empathy
If you want to explore self-awareness: Mindsight
If you prefer reflective essays: The Empathy Exams
If you're reading with a young child: Listening with My Heart
The 7 books, ranked
Ranked by how many expert sources name each book. Ties go to the book more people recommend.
For readers who want empathy connected to everyday habits and public life, Krznaric offers a broad starting point. Its social ambitions extend beyond one-to-one relationships, so choose a communication guide for more concentrated help with conversation.
What it's about
Roman Krznaric explores empathy as a skill that can reshape relationships and public life. Drawing on research and personal stories, he presents six habits intended to strengthen perspective taking, connection, and understanding across social differences.
For readers who want research alongside human examples, Zaki makes the case for practicing empathy rather than treating it as fixed. Its range is useful for orientation, though it offers less conversational structure than Nonviolent Communication.
What it's about
Jamil Zaki argues that empathy can be developed through practice rather than treated as a fixed personality trait. He combines psychological research with stories of people cultivating understanding in settings marked by conflict, prejudice, or burnout.
Also recommended by
1 person
Arianna Huffington recommended this bookArianna Huffington
"Shows that empathy isn't a fixed trait — it's something we can, and must, develop and nurture." - Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington's recommendation of this book
Nonviolent Communication
A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
For readers who want concrete help expressing needs and listening during disagreements, Rosenberg provides a focused conversational framework. The phrasing can feel deliberate at first, so its usefulness depends on practice and adapting it naturally.
What it's about
Marshall Rosenberg introduces his Nonviolent Communication approach through stories, examples, and role plays. He presents communication practices intended to replace criticism and blame with honest expression and compassionate listening in relationships and conflicts.
Also recommended by
4 people
Esther Perel recommended this bookEsther Perel
"I think that this book is a classic for anyone who is thinking relationships." - Esther Perel
Esther Perel's recommendation of this book 
Neil Strauss recommended this bookNeil Strauss
"The central idea is that, unbeknownst to us, there’s a lot of violence in the way we communicate with others—and with ourselves." - Neil Strauss
Neil Strauss's recommendation of this book 
Satya Nadella recommended this bookSatya Nadella
"When CEO Satya Nadella took over Microsoft, he started defusing its toxic culture by handing each of his execs [this book]." - Business Insider
Satya Nadella's recommendation of this book 
Dustin Moskovitz recommended this bookDustin Moskovitz
"Seek first to understand." - Dustin Moskovitz
Dustin Moskovitz's recommendation of this book
The Empathy Exams
For readers who prefer essays to exercises, Jamison examines the uncertainty and limits of understanding other people. Personal experience and cultural observation make the questions concrete, but this is searching literary nonfiction rather than a practical program.
What it's about
In essays that begin with her job as a medical actor, Jamison looks at illness, violence, performance, and fellow feeling. The book asks what it really means to witness pain, and what empathy can, or cannot, do.
Also recommended by
1 person
Lena Dunham recommended this bookLena Dunham
"This book should be required if you're looking to be a person." - Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham's recommendation of this book
For readers who like exercises and a structured vocabulary for emotions, McLaren offers a substantial practical framework. Its distinctive terminology takes time to absorb, making this a slower choice than a broad introductory account.
What it's about
Karla McLaren explores empathy as a skill that can be understood and developed through practice. Discussions of emotional awareness, boundaries, perspective, and support accompany exercises for navigating relationships at home, at work, and within wider communities.
For adults reading with young children, Garcia gives self-compassion a place alongside kindness toward others. The picture-book format supports shared discussion, though older readers looking for detailed explanations or relationship strategies will need another choice.
What it's about
After finding a heart-shaped rock, Esperanza wants to share kindness with others. When her school play brings disappointment, she faces the challenge of extending that same kindness to herself. The story includes mindfulness and self-compassion activities for children.
For readers who want to begin with understanding their own reactions, Siegel offers clinical stories and a self-awareness framework. Its psychotherapy and brain-science emphasis requires more attention than a simple set of tips for listening.
What it's about
Daniel Siegel introduces mindsight as the ability to observe internal experience and understand other people's mental worlds. Using clinical case histories, he explores attention, emotional patterns, and relationships, explaining his approach to developing awareness and personal change.
Sources
- 1
7 Books That’ll Help You Develop More Empathy
blog.hubspot.com
- 2
15 Must-Read Empathy Books for Cultivating Kindness
positivepsychology.com
- 3
Recommended Reading
new.artsmia.org
- 4
Empathy Books
goodreads.com
- 5
100 Best Empathy Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)
shortform.com
- 6
Suggest me a book to develop empathy
reddit.com
- 7
Books On Empathy & Compassion
reddit.com
- 8
The Empathy Collection
aurora.bibliocommons.com
- 9
Books on empathy for adults
karminfouche.com
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shape MRB and its growth.
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